Read another Stephen King novel that I’ve once before titled “Needful Things”. Been a long time since I read this, along with “The Tommyknockers” (A hard cover edition, of which I own currently).
In the town of Castle Rock Maine, a wonderful new store has opened up. And it is called simply Needful Things.
In this store whatever you most desire in your heart. whether it is sexual desire, wealth, power or things that are most precious, it has it all. And all of it is for sale.
But though the price of these items can be very nerve shattering, Mr. Leland Gaunt, owner of Needful Things, is always ready to make a bargain. And there’s nothing that Gaunt loves more than to make a bargain.
Castle Rock, Maine is one of King’s most well known creations, and of course most famous. It has served as a setting for many of the stories in his career. And here in his 1991 novel it serves as a setting here also. Leland Gaunt, who owns the titular store, is a very interesting antagonist. On the surface he is a charming and kind old salesman,but if you scratch that surface, beneath that charming and kind veneer, there is something very dark.
The book starts slowly at first but then eventually picking up steam and going into high gear. And for me that’s good enough.
Note: The subtitle for “Needful Things” states that it is “The Last Castle Rock Story”, though King himself has written additional stories with the town as the setting.
by i-the-muso-1968